Sand mold formation

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for forming sand molds comprising an elongate bed. The bed includes adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand. A top cover plate is used for partially further closing the receptacles alternately. The top cover plate is operatively associated with the receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on the sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein. A pair of opposing yet cooperable pattern plates are shiftably supported for entering together into each of the receptacles respectively, in opposing relation, to compact the sand disposed in the latter. A pair of mold ejectors are also utilized for entering into the receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold so formed in the latter. The elongate bed is reciprocatable longitudinally over a plurality of selected positions such that the pattern plates and ejectors can be aligned properly opposite selected of the receptacles alternately in operative association with the latter.

United States Patent 1 Larkin SAND MOLD FORMATION [76] Inventor: Sam Larkin, 254 Beach 140th St.,

Belle Harbor, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.1 114,993

52 u.s.c1 164/172, 164/18, 164/187,

164/207 51 1111. c1. B22c 15/08 58 Field ofSearch ..164/207,210,2l2,

Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney-Friedman & Goodman 111 3,744,550 1451 July 10,1973

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for forming sand molds comprising an elongate bed. The bed includes adjacent and partially en closed receptacles for alternately receiving sand. A top cover plate is used for partially further closing the receptacles alternately. The top cover plate is operatively associated with the receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on the sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein. A pair of opposing yet cooperable pattern plates are shiftably supported for entering together into each of the receptacles respectively, in opposing relation, to compact the sand disposed in the latter. A pair of mold ejectors are also utilized for entering into the receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold so formed in the latter. The elongate bed'is reciprocatable longitudinally over a plurality of selected positions such that the pattern plates and ejectors can be aligned properly opposite selected of the receptacles alternately in operative association with thel latter.

22 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 1 0m;

summon SAM LARKW iNVENTOR ATTOR N EY5 PATENIED JUL 1 mm SHED 2 U 7 SAM LARKlN INVENTOR v r BY nm ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 1 0 I973 SHEU 3 BF 7 FIG.4.

N A L M A S 4 /2 6 2 INVENT'OR VM WJJ ATTORN EYS SHEE'QIF? FIG- 6 SA M l. A R K I N INVENTOR 94 ATTORNEYS PATENIED JUL 1 01913 sum 6 or 7 SHIFT BED HAVING TWO DISPLACE TOP COVER PATRs OFPIVOTAL SIDE- PLATE DOWNWARDLY WALLS INTO LEFTMosT To LOCK ONE PAIR OR INITIAL POSITION. OF SIDE WALLS lN POSITION.

DISPLACE PATTERN PLATES TOWARD ONE ANOTHER BETWEEN THE LOCKED SIDE WALLS TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE.

r! EvATE TOP cOvER PLATE T0 FREE THE LOCKED SIDE-WALLS ARO RE MOLD.

RETRACT PATTERN PLATES FROM THE BED VICINITY.

ETLTETTOIOEURE WIT? ,4 SAND AND COMPACT THE SAND WITH THE PATTERN PLATES SHIFT BED TO THE RIGHT TO ALIGN THE MOLD WITH THE EJECTOR ON THE RTGHT.

EJECT MOLD WHILE REPEAT AND SHIFT FORMING A SECOND BED TO THE LEFT. MOLD BETWEEN THE AJACENT PAIRS OF J F IG. IO.

SAM LARKIN INVENTQR ATTORNEYS 1 SAND MOLD FORMATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to sand mold formation and more particularly to fully automated apparatus for forming a plurality of sand molds.

Sand molds are generally formed as two sections one of which is a lower section or drag section and the other of which is the upper section or cope section. Each of these sections are provided with cooperating impressions so that molten metal can be poured between the two sections and cooled to assume the configuration corresponding to the impressions in the opposing cooperable sand mold sections. This procedure is generally time consuming in that it is generally done manually and therefore is clearly not suitable for accommodating the great quantative industrial demands currently expected. This manual practice has been modified somewhat and numerous machines have been adapted for more adequately forming a greater number of sand molds more rapidly than that of the more primitive manual procedure.

In the more recent sand mold formation machines, sand is deposited into an enclosure and opposing pattern plates are displaced toward one another into the enclosure to compact the sand and impart to the sand on opposite faces of the latter desired impressions corresponding to the impression in the pattern plates respectively. The pattern plates are then removed or retractedout of the enclosure and ejectors are utilized for then entering into the enclosure and ejecting the mold section so formed in the enclosure. It should be clear that the ejected mold section is provided with two opposing faces which are of desired configuration and if disposed opposite another mold section formed in the aforementioned manner, the two faces of each mold section which face one another can be utilized for cooperatively receiving molten metal. The molten metal fills the cavity defined by the opposing faces of the cooperating mold sections and when cooled can be removed from the mold sections in a preferred finished configuration.

It is also clear that a plurality of the mold sections can be successively placed in adjacent relation in linear array and this permits the continuous disposition or pouring of molten metal between each of the cooperating mold sections in a continuous and rapid manner.

In. the conventional machine as aforementioned, there is provided means for more expiditiously enhancing the formation of the mold in that there is provided a bed that can be reciprocated between two selected positions such that after a mold is formed in a first enclosure by the opposing pattern plates, the bed can be shifted to a second position upon retraction of the pattern plates from the bed area to permit a first ejector to enter the first enclosure and eject the mold so formed in the first enclosure to a first station. At this point, while the ejector is ejecting the already formed mold in the first enclosure, a second mold is being formed by the pattern plates in a second enclosure adjacent the first enclosure on the bed. After the first formed mold is ejected from the first enclosure and the first ejector is retracted away from the bed and upon retraction of the opposing pattern plates which have operated upon the second enclosure to form the second mold, the bed can then be shifted or reciprocated in the opposite direction to align the second enclosure with a second ejector which is on the opposite side of the pattern plates from that of the first ejector. Thus, the second ejector can enter into the second enclosure and eject the second mold so formed in the latter to a second station. During the ejection of the second mold a third mold is being formed in the first enclosure and again the bed can be reciprocated to the first ejector position. This procedure is continuously repeated and it is clear that a great number of sand mold portions can be positioned opposite one another in two parallel linear arrays which can be further operated upon independently. I

The aforementioned conventional sand mold formation machine, which although is an improvement in the art, suffers from numerous disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is the fact that the sand-receiving enclosure of the machine, wherein the sand is formed into the respective mold sections, cannot be adjusted for releasing the formed sand mold sections and, therefore, since the sand when compacted adheres to the surfaces of the enclosure in contact therewith, it is very difficult to eject the formed sand mold sections without damaging the latter.

A second disadvantage related to the conventional machine, as aforementioned, is that when the ejector of the machine contacts the finished section to eject the latter, the face of the ejector contacts portions of the impressions formed in the sand and since the weight of the mold is rather heavy, the ejector must exert a great force against the impression in the mold and therefore, the ejector sometimes damages the latter. Even in the instance where the ejector only peripherally contacts the mold section and is spaced from the formed impression in the latter, the ejector cannot uniformly exert pressure against the entire surface of the mold section in contact therewith and, therefore, as the ejector displaces the mold section, the latter is somewhat distorted during displacement thereof.

A further disadvantage related to the conventional machine, as aforementioned, is the fact that the conventional machine does not permit for the rapid replacement of the patterns to permit the formation of mold sections having different impressions. In this re-' spect, the mold sections as formed each have identical patterns and when it is desired to form other mold sections with different impressions, the latter cannot be effected without great difficulty in changing the pattern plates of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fully automated apparatus for forming a plurality of sand mold sections quickly and reliably.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus for forming and disposing opposing sand mold sections in a linear array in cooperative relation with one another.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus having adjustable receptacles for first operating on sand to form a mold section and thereafter fully releasing each mold section so formed such that the mold section may be readily ejected selectively without damage thereto. a

It is still another object of the present invention to provide apparatus having a plurality of receptacles such that one mold section can be made in one receptacle, while another already formed mold section can be ejected from an adjacent receptacle to speed up the manufacturing process.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus having a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of ejectors associated with the receptacles respectively for alternately ejecting molds formed in the latter respectively.

It is another object of the present invention to supply a pressurized fluid to the ejectors for contacting the impression formed in each mold section to aid the ejector eject the formed mold sections from the receptacles.

It is still another object of the present invention to supply a pressurized fluid for cleaning the ejectors simultaneously as the ejectors eject the mold sections formed in the receptacles.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically changing patterns so that mold sections may be formed having differing impressions from one another selectively.

These objects are achieved by providing apparatus comprising an elongate bed. The bed includes adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand. A top cover plate is used for partially further closing the receptacles alternately. The top cover plate is operatively associated with the receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on the sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein. A pair of opposing yet cooperable pattern plates are shiftably supported for entering together into each of the receptacles respectively, in opposing relation, to compact the sand disposed in the latter. A pair of mold ejectors are also utilized for entering into the receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold so formed in the latter. The elongate bed is reciprocatable longitudinally over a plurality of selected positions such that the pattern plates and ejectors can be aligned properly opposite selected of the receptacles alternately in operative association with the latter. The ejectors utilize pressurized fluid to aid in the ejection process and the pattern plates are each provided as a group of at least two patterns that may be reciprocated vertically to effect a change in the type of patterns utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partly in crosssection and partly in phantom illustrating the relationship of the adjustable receptacles for receiving sand according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the underside of the top cover portion for the receptacles according to the present inventon;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the bed and receptacles of the present invention for receiving sand and the recriprocatory nature thereof for providing, as shown in phantom, two parallel linear arrays of sand mold sections;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevational view partly in phantom showing the relationship of the opposing pattern plates for forming an impression in the sand;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate top plan views respectively, generally schematically and partly in crosssection, of the sequence of operations of the pattern plates and the ejectors on the opposite lateral sides of the assembly of the pattern plates according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a generally perspective view of the portion of the ejector which contacts the formed sand mold;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the ejector portion taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illusrates a generally block diagram of the sequence of operations as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 respectively;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front elevational view of the assembly as illustrated in FIGS. 5-7;

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate respectively, partly in cross-section, apparatus of a further embodiment of the present invention for automatically changing the pattern plates from one pattern configuration to that of a second pattern configuration; and

FIG. 14 illustrates a generally perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention comprises an elongate bed 20. The elongate bed 20 is displaceable horizontally in a fixed bed support 22 having a pair of longitudinally extending dove-tail side grooves 24. The elongate bed 20 has triangular-like side portions 26 which are adapted for sliding within the dove-tail side grooves 24 of the fixed bed support 22. The relationship of the fixed bed support 22 with that of the elongate bed 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4. Mounted below the elongate bed 20 is a bracket 28. A power cylinder 30 having a piston 32 and fluid carrying channels 34 respectively communicating with the piston 32 is operatively associated with the bracket 28 through the intermediary of a bolt 36 which acts to fix the free end of the piston 32 to the bracket 28. The power cylinder 30 includes a connecting extension 38 or the like for connecting the cylinder 30 to a portion of the fixed frame 39 of the machine or to any other suitably located fixed external source. It is clear therefore, that the cylinder 30 has a fixed relation relative to the frame 39 of the machine and, therefore, as the piston 32 is displaced by the fluid carried in the fluid carrying channels 34, the elongate bed 20 is shifted or displaced horizontally as generally shown by the arrow A in FIG. 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongate bed 20 includes two pairs of opposing side walls, each of the side walls being denoted by the reference characters 40-43 respectively. Each of the side walls 40-43 are pivotally associated with the elongate bed 20 through the intermediary of pins 44 or the like. The elongate bed 20 furthermore includes two opposing brackets 46 fixedly mounted thereon at the opposite longitudinal ends of the bed 20. A plurality of resilient elements such as springs or the like are utilized for connecting the side walls 40-43 into resilient association with the elongate bed 20. In this respect, a spring 47 interconnects the side wall 40 to the rightmost bracket 46, a spring 48 interconnects the side walls 41 and 42 to one another, and a spring 49 interconnects the side wall 43 to the left-most bracket 46 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The elongate bed 20 furthermore includes abutment cutouts 45 for operative association with the lowermost portions of the side walls 43 proximate the pins 44 respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side walls 42 and 43 are urged away from one another by means of the springs 48 and 49 respectively such that the lowermost portions of the side walls 42 and 43 contact the abutment cutouts 45 respectively. In this manner, the abutment cutouts 45 act to limit the pivotal displacement of the side walls 42 and 43 to operative positions which will be discussed further below. It should be understood, of course, that the side walls 40 and 41 and the side walls 42 and 43 cooperatively define, together with the elongate bed 20, two partially open receptacles adjacent one another as will be further described below.

Depending above the elongate bed is a top cover plate 50 having a hole or opening 51 centrally disposed therein. A pair of fixed guide rods 52, which are fixedly associated with the frame 39 of the apparatus, extend in spaced parallel relation transversely of the bed 20. The guide rods 52 act to guide the displacement of the top cover plate 50 toward and away from the elongate bed 20 in parallel relation with the latter. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the top cover plate 50 is provided with opposite connecting extensions 54 having transverse openings 56 extending therethrough. A pair of toggle linkage assemblies 58, each having a pair of links 60 and 61, act to support the top cover plate 50 and displace the latter toward and away from the elongate bed 20. The links 60 and 61 are interconnected at 62 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The links 60 are interconnected to the frame 39 pivotally as by pins 64. Similarly, the links 61 are interconnected to the top cover plate 50 pivotally as by pins 66. A power cylinder 68 having fluid carrying channels 70 in communicating relation with a plunger 72 shiftably displaceable in the power cylinder 68, is operatively associated with the toggle linkage assemblies 58 such that the end portion 74 of the plunger 72 is pivotally connected to the leftmost toggle linkage assembly 58 as illustrated in FIG. 1, whereas a connecting extension 76 connected to the power cylinder 68 is pivotally associated with the rightmost toggle linkage assembly 58 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Upon activation of the plunger 72, outwardly of the power cylinder 68, the toggle linkage assemblies 58 assume a triangular-likeposition as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 to elevate the top cover plate 50 away from the elongate bed 20. In this respect, the power cylinder 68 assumes an elevated position as shown in phantom also in FIG. 1. Similarly, as the plunger 72 of the power cylinder 68 is activated inwardly of the latter, the toggle linkage assemblies 58 assume a position as shown in solid line in FIG. 1 to thereby displace the top cover plate 50 toward the bed 20.

The top cover plate 50 is provided at its underside with a pair of spaced parallel camming surfaces 78 which terminate respectively in grooves 80 for receiving the upper portions of either the side walls 40 and 41 or 42 and 43 respectively. As discussed above, the abutment cutouts 45 provided in the elongate bed 20 act to restrain or limit the maximum pivotal displacement of the side walls 40-43 respectively and, in this respect, the pivotal displacement of the side walls 40-43 is limited such that the uppermost portions of the side walls 40-43 respectively are positioned so as to be in operative association with the camming surfaces 78 of the top cover plate 50. In this respect, as the top cover plate is displaced downwardly toward the elongate bed 20, the camming surfaces 78 act to shift the side walls 40 and 41 toward one another when, depending on the displacement of the bed 20, the latter side walls are disposed immediately therebelow, and similarly, the camming surfaces 78 act to displace the side walls 42 and 43 also toward one another when the latter side walls are immediately therebelow. In each case, the side walls 40-43 are displaced by the camming surfaces 78 in opposition to the springs 47-49 respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side walls 40 and 41 are immediately below the top cover plate 50 and therefore, when the top cover plate 50 descends to contact the side walls 40 and 41, the camming surfaces 78 act to displace the side walls 40 and 41 toward one another and into the grooves provided in the top cover plate 50. The top cover plate in combination with the side walls 40 and 41, therefore, form together with the bed 20, a partially open receptacle into which sand can be disposed through the opening 51 provided in the top cover plate 50.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5-7, wherein there is illustrated in plan view, partly in cross-section, and partly in phantom, the relationship of the elongate bed 20 and the side walls 40-43 with that of the apparatus for further operating upon the sand in the receptacles. A pair of opposing pattern formation assemblies 82 respectively, are provided on the opposite sides of the elongate bed 20. The assemblies 82 include pattern plungers 84 respectively. for displacement toward and away from one another transversely of the elongate bed 20. Each of the plungers 84 includes a pattern plate 86 provided with pattern formation projections 88 respectively. The pattern plates 86 also each include a groove formation projection 90 extending vertically from the pattern formation projections 88 respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and discussed further below. The as semblies 82 include respective housings 92, the latter having fluid carrying channels 94 communicating with the pattern plungers 84 to selectively displace same.

Also illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 are a pair of ejector housings 96 disposed on two opposite lateral sides of the pattern formation assemblies 82. The ejector housings 96 include respective ejector plungers 98 for displacement transversely of the elongate bed 20 by means of fluid provided in fluid carrying channels 100 communicating with the plungers 98. The plungers 98 include respective hollow ejectors 102 for ejecting finished sand molds as formed in the receptacles defined by the side walls 40 and 41 and 42 and 43 respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the open end 104 of the hollow ejectors 102 respectively, includes an elastomeric gasket 106 projecting outwardly therefrom. The elastomeric gasket 106 is formed with an elastomeric gasket projection 108, the purpose of which will be clarified below. The hollow ejectors 102 also are provided with fluid inlets 110, the purpose of which will also be clarified below.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, and the function and nature of those elements discussed above and not clarified heretofore, will now be discussed. As illustrated in FIG. 10, diagramatically in block form, the operation of the apparatus, pursuant to the present invention, can be briefly expanded upon and characterized by first providing an elongate bed 20 with side walls 40-43 respectively to define two adjacent partially open receptacles. The top cover plate 50 is displaced downwardly toward the elongate bed 20, by means of the toggle linkage assemblies 58, to cam and lock two of the side walls immediately therebelow to form a partially open enclosure. The pattern plates 86 are then displaced toward one another from a position denoted by the reference character 86 as illustrated in FIG. to a position as denoted by the reference characters 86' as illustrated in FIG. 4 and reference character 86 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In the position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 respectively, there is effected a fully enclosed station into which sand can be disposed through the opening 51 provided in the top cover plate 50. The pattern plates 86 can then be displaced further toward one another as illustrated in FIG. 7, and by the reference character 86" in FIG. 4 to thereby compact the sand and form on the opposite sides of the compacted sand an impression corresponding to the configuration of the pattern formation projections 88. With the pattern plates 86 in this latter position, there is also formed on the opposite faces of the compacted sand, an open groove 91 by means of the groove formation projections 90, the open groove 91 (see FIG. 9) communicating with the impression formed by the pattern formation projections 88 respectively. When the sand is compacted to its preferred degree, the pattern plates 86 are then retracted away from one another, out of the vicinity of the side walls 40 and 41 respectively, and the toggle linkage assemblies 58 respectively are operated upon by the power cylinder 68 so as to displace the links 60 and 61 into the positions as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1.

With the toggle linkage assemblies 58 in the configuration as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, the top cover plate 50 is retracted away from the elongate bed to thereby free the side walls 40 and 41 so that the latter can be urged into engagement with the abutment cutouts 45 respectively. When the side walls 40 and 41 are in contact with the abutments 45 respectively, the sand mold section that has been formed as discussed above is thereby freed entirely from the confines of the receptacle defined by the side walls 40 and 41 respectively.

The elongate bed 20 is then shifted to the right as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5 to align the just formed sand mold section and the side walls 40 and 41 respectively with the ejector 102. This latter shifting of the elongate bed 20 brings the side walls 42 and 43 immediately below the top cover plate 50. The top cover plate 50 can then descend, and through the intermediary of the camming surfaces 78 and the locking grooves 80, cam and lock respectively the side walls 42 and 43 into a partially open enclosure as was the case described above for the side walls 40 and 41. The pattern plates 86 may then enter the thus formed partially open enclosure as illustrated in FIG. 6 to provide a fully enclosed station into which sand again can be disposed through the opening 51 provided in the top cover plate 50. The pattern plates 86 can then be displaced further toward one another as illustrated in FIG. 7 to compact the sand to its selected degree and form the impression therein as discussed above and thus form a second mold section.

During the formation of the second mold section within the confines of the side walls 42 and 43, the right-most ejector 102 can be displaced transversely of the bed 20 between the side walls 40 and 41 to eject the first formed mold section M1. The displacement of the ejector 102 to eject the first formed mold section can take place either immediately when the side walls 40 and 41 are aligned with the latter or any time during which the second mold section is being formed. The ejector 102 should be retracted to its position as shown in phantom in FIG. 7 preferably no later than the retraction of the pattern plates 86 from the confines of the side walls 42 and 43. Upon retraction of the ejector 102 and the pattern plates 86, the elongate bed 20 is then free to be shifted to the left as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 7 to assume the position as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the second formed sand mold section between the side walls 42 and 43 is aligned with the leftmost ejector 102 and the receptacle defined by the side walls 40 and 41 is now vacant and ready to be operated upon as discussed above. A third mold section is therefore capable of being formed in the receptacle defined by the side walls 40 and 41 during which time the leftmost ejector 102 is displaced transversely of the elongate bed 20 to eject the second formed mold section M2 as illustrated in FIG. 6. It is clear that this procedure can be repeated continuously to alternately dispose pattern mold sections in two linear parallel arrays as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3.

It should be clear that each sand mold section thus formed is in fact only one half of the sand mold that will be utilized for receiving molten metal. In this respect, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the uppermost surfaces of the adjoining mold sections as shown in phantom, are provided with open channels defined by the grooves formed by the groove formation projections on the pattern plates 86. Thus, molten metal can be poured into these open channels to fill a cavity defined by the opposing impressions formed in the faces of the mold section halves in contact with one another.

It is noteworthy that as the sand mold sections are formed and disposed in two generally parallel linear arrays, the successive cavities defined by the cooperating mold section halves can be successively filled with molten metal continuously.

As discussed above, the ejectors 102 are hollow and each has an open end 104 to peripherally contact and eject the sand mold sections through the intermediary of their respective elastomeric gaskets 106. As the ejector plunger 98 is displaced toward the formed section, air or similar pressurized fluid is injected through the fluid inlet into the hollow ejector 102. When the elastomeric gasket 106 contacts the thus formed mold section, the gasket 106 and projection 108, the latter which is inserted into the groove of the mold section formed by the projection 90, deform somewhat'toseal air spaces that exist between the open end 104 of the ejector 102 and thereby trap the incoming pressurized fluid or air in the ejector 102. As the ejector 102 is advanced further across the elongate bed 20, the pressurized air together with the gasket 106 exerts a uniform pressure over the entire surface of the thus formed sand mold section in contact therewith and thus obviates distortion or other potential damage to the sand mold section as it is ejected, which otherwise may occur when only the gasket 106' contacts the mold section in the absence of pressurized air for filling crevices and other cavities between the ejector 102 and the thus formed section.

As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, injection or introduction of the preseurized air into the hollow ejector 102 serves another useful purpose in that open retraction of the ejector 102 after ejection of the thus formed mold section the pressurized air acts to blast and cleanse the internal portions of the hollow ejectors 102 from sand grannules or the like that may have collected therein during the ejection stage.

It is noteworthy that the fluid-carrying channels 34, 70, 94 and 100, all communicate with a pressurized source or sources through the intermediary of conventional valve-like timing devices, as one skilled in the art will readily appreciate and; therefore, further description of hydraulic or pneumatic circuiting is omitted for the sake of clarity. These fluid carrying channels are timed to effect activation of the power cylinders either together or sequentially as may be the case to operate the apparatus according to the present invention selectively as described above.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, the apparatus according to the present invention may be provided with a'further embodiment for activating the pattern formation assemblies 82. An alternating pattern assembly 112, constituting the latter or further embodiment aforementioned, comprises a pair of opposing support blocks 114 which are fixed to the pattern plungers 84 respectively for horizontal displacement with the latter in substitution for the pattern plates 86 aforementioned. Each of the support blocks 114 accommodates a dove-tailed slide block 116 which is vertically reciprocatable in the support blocks 114 respectively. The dove-tailed slide blocks 116 are each provided with a pair of pattern members, i. e., an upper member 118 and a lower member 120, spacedfrom one another over a suitable distance as will be discussed below. The pattern members 118 and 120 each include respectively, both a groove formation projection 122 and a pattern formation projection 124. Each of the slide blocks 1 16 is provided with a bracket 126 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The brackets 126 are fixed to respective plungers 128, the latter being associated with power cylinders 130 respectively. The power cylinders 130 are fixed to and carried by each support block 114 in a conventional manner and, therefore, the support blocks 114, when displaced horizontally by the pattern 10 with the receptacles to operate on sand in the latter as illustrated in FIG. 13.

it should be clear that the latter embodiment is constituted of structure thatpermits the slide blocks 116 each with the pattern members 118 and 120 to be displaced in two mutually perpendicular directions for operative association with the elongate bed 20. The pur pose of providing the latter embodiment is to permit the formation of the mold sections having different impressions. In this respect, as discussed above, two linear generally parallel arrays of sand mold sections are disposed relative to one another as they are formed. it is possible for the latter described embodiment to both form one linear array of cooperating mold sections having one type of impression and form a second linear array of cooperating mold sections having a second type of impression. Thus, not only can these parallel linear mold arrays be utilized for receiving molten metal for hardening into different configurations, but they may also accommodate molten metals differing from one another in metallic content. The latter described embodiment thus serves additional functions for enhancing the sand mold manufacturing process.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein dis closed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relatesto a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Whatis claimed is: i 1. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjaplungers 84 respectively, act to displace in fixed association therewith, the power cylinders 130 respectively, the brackets 126 respectively, the slide blocks 116 respectively and boththeir pattern members 1 18 and 120 horizontally across the elongate bed 20 transversely of the latter in a manner as is displaceable .the pattern plates 86 of the earlier described embodiment. It is important to note, that the brackets 126*are slidably seated in slideways 132 to affect vertical displacement of the slide blocks 116 relative to the support blocks 114.

in operation of the latter describedembodiment, the support blocks 114 can be displaced toward and away from one another so that in one instance the upper pattern members 118 can enter into the receptacles defined by the side walls 40 and 41, and 42 and 43 respectively, to compact the sand disposed in the latter. Similarly, the support blocks 114 can be then displaced away from one another to bring the upper pattern members 118 out of the confines of the elongate bed 20 so that the upper pattern members 118 are elevated to a position above the top cover plate 50 and the lower pattern members 120 are simultaneously elevated above the elongate bed 20. Thus, the lower pattern members 120 may then enter into operative association cent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, each of said receptacles including a pair of side walls extending transversely of said bed, at least one of said side walls of each of said receptacles being pivotally mounted on said bed for displacement toward and away from the other of the side walls, resilient means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for urging the latter away from the other of the side walls, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, said closure means including a top cover plate and means for displacing saidtop cover plate downwardly toward and upwardly away from said bed, said top cover plate including caming means operatively'associated with the pivotally mounted side walls of said receptacles respectively for displacing the pivotally mounted side walls in opposition to said resilient means to thereby adjust the configuration of the receptacles respectively tothat for operating on the sand, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the same disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said mold ejection means being movable parallel to the direction of movement of said pattern means, and means for displacing said bed relative to both said pattern means and said ejection means over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed and transversely of the direction of movement of said pattern means and said ejection means to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in simultaneous operative association with the latter respectively.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mutually cooperable pattern means includes a pair of opposing pattern plates displaceable in a first direction in opposing relation transversely of said elongate bed for contacting opposite surfaces of the sand disposed in said receptacles respectively.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including a further pair of pattern plates fixedly associated with the first said pair of pattern plates respectively, and means for displacing both the first said pair of pattern plates and said further pair of pattern plates together in a second direction in common relation transversely of said first direction of the displacement of the first said pair of pattern plates.

4. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the sand disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said ejection means including a hollow openended enclosure for contacting and ejecting molds formed in said receptacles respectively, the open-end of said enclosure including fluid-sealing means for contacting said molds respectively, said ejection means further including means for injecting pressurized fluid through said enclosure to be trapped therein by said fluid-sealing means and contact said molds respectively for supplementing the force exerted by said enclosure necessary for ejecting said molds respectively, said mold ejection means being movable parallel to the direction of movement of said pattern means, and means for displacing said bed relative to both said pattern means and said ejection means over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed and transversely of the direction of movement of said pattern means and said ejection means to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in simultaneous operative association with the latter respectively.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said receptacles includes a pair of side walls extending transversely of said bed, at least one of said side walls of each of said receptacles being pivotally mounted on said bed for displacement toward and away from the other of the side walls.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including resilient means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for urging the latter away from the other of the side walls.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said closure means includes a top cover plate and means for displacing said top cover plate downwardly toward and upwardly away from said bed, said top cover plate ineluding camming means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls of said receptacles respectively for displacing the pivotally mounted side walls in opposition to said resilient means to thereby adjust the configuration of the receptacles respectively to that for operating on the sand.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top cover plate is provided with a generally centrally disposed opening extending transversely therethrough and through which sand is introduced into said receptacles respectively.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including guide means for maintaining said top cover plate generally parallel to said bed as said top cover plate is displaced toward and away from said bed.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said top cover plate is provided with a pair of spaced openings extending transversely therethrough and said guide means includes a pair of spaced rods vertically extending transversely of said bed and through said pair of spaced openings respectively in said top cover plate.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein said camming means is constituted at least in part by an inclined surface extending along said top cover plate and facing said bed.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bed includes abutment means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for limiting the extent of displacement of the latter by said resilient means to thereby position the pivotally mounted side walls in operative association with said camming means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, including toggle-linkage means operatively associated with said top cover plate for displacing the latter along said spaced rods toward and away from said bed.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said toggle-linkage means includes a pair of spaced togglelinkages and a power cylinder interconnecting said pair of spaced toggle-linkages to one another for displacing the latter toward and away from one another longitudinally of said bed.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latter said means includes a power cylinder for displacing said bed longitudinally.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means for displacing said opposing mutually cooperable pattern means toward one another transversely of said bed to an intermediate position for engagement with the side walls associated with a selected one of said receptacles to constitute with the latter said side walls a foursided enclosure for receiving the sand, further means for displacing said pattern means further toward one another to a terminal position for compacting the sand into a mold, and still further means for fully retracting said pattern means away from one another and out of the confines of the latter said side walls to permit longitudinal displacement of said bed.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said pattern means include a pair of opposing pattern plates each having an exposed face for contacting the sand to form an impression in the sand of selected contour.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the exposed face of each of said opposing pattern plates includes a projection for forming in the sand a vertically extending open groove in communicating relation with the impression formed in the sand.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said mold ejection means includes a pair of ejectors on two lateral sides of said pattern means for alternate displacement transversely of said bed through said receptacles respectively for ejecting molds formed in the latter respectively.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, including means for reciprocating said bed between two selected positions to carry one of said receptacles opposite said pattern means and then opposite one of said ejectors and the other of said receptacles opposite said pattern means and then opposite the other of said ejectors.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fluid-sealing means includes a resilient and hollow projection mounted on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the open-end of said enclosure.

22. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the sand disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said ejection means including a hollow openended enclosure for contacting and ejecting molds formed in said receptacles respectively, the open-end of said enclosure including fluid-sealing means for contacting said molds respectively, said ejection means further including means for injecting pressurized fluid through said enclosure to be trapped therein by said fluid-sealing means and contact said molds respectively for supplementing the force exerted by said enclosure necessary for ejecting said molds respectively, and means for displacing said bed and said pattern means together with said ejection means relative to one another over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in operative association with the latter. 

1. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, each of said receptacles including a pair of side walls extending transversely of said bed, at least one of said side walls of each of said receptacles being pivotally mounted on said bed for displacement toward and away from the other of the side walls, resilient means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for urging the latter away from the other of the side walls, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, said closure means including a top cover plate and means for displacing said top cover plate downwardly toward and upwardly away from said bed, said top cover plate including caming means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls of said receptacles respectively for displacing the pivotally mounted side walls in opposition to said resilient means to thereby adjusT the configuration of the receptacles respectively to that for operating on the sand, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the same disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said mold ejection means being movable parallel to the direction of movement of said pattern means, and means for displacing said bed relative to both said pattern means and said ejection means over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed and transversely of the direction of movement of said pattern means and said ejection means to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in simultaneous operative association with the latter respectively.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mutually cooperable pattern means includes a pair of opposing pattern plates displaceable in a first direction in opposing relation transversely of said elongate bed for contacting opposite surfaces of the sand disposed in said receptacles respectively.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including a further pair of pattern plates fixedly associated with the first said pair of pattern plates respectively, and means for displacing both the first said pair of pattern plates and said further pair of pattern plates together in a second direction in common relation transversely of said first direction of the displacement of the first said pair of pattern plates.
 4. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the sand disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said ejection means including a hollow open-ended enclosure for contacting and ejecting molds formed in said receptacles respectively, the open-end of said enclosure including fluid-sealing means for contacting said molds respectively, said ejection means further including means for injecting pressurized fluid through said enclosure to be trapped therein by said fluid-sealing means and contact said molds respectively for supplementing the force exerted by said enclosure necessary for ejecting said molds respectively, said mold ejection means being movable parallel to the direction of movement of said pattern means, and means for displacing said bed relative to both said pattern means and said ejection means over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed and transversely of the direction of movement of said pattern means and said ejection means to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in simultaneous operative association with the latter respectively.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said receptacles includes a pair of side walls extending transversely of said bed, at least one of said side walls of each of said receptacles being pivotally mounted on said bed for displacement toward and away from the other of the side walls.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including resilient means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for urging the latter away from the other of the side walls.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said closure means includes a top cover plate and means for displacing said top cover plate downwardly toward and upwardly away from said bed, said top cover plate including camming means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls of said receptacles respectively for displacing the pivotally mounted side walls in opposition to said resilient means to thereby adjust the configuration of the receptacles respectively to that for operating on the sand.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top cover plate is provided with a generally centrally disposed opening extending transversely therethrough and through which sand is introduced into said receptacles respectively.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including guide means for maintaining said top cover plate generally parallel to said bed as said top cover plate is displaced toward and away from said bed.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said top cover plate is provided with a pair of spaced openings extending transversely therethrough and said guide means includes a pair of spaced rods vertically extending transversely of said bed and through said pair of spaced openings respectively in said top cover plate.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camming means is constituted at least in part by an inclined surface extending along said top cover plate and facing said bed.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bed includes abutment means operatively associated with the pivotally mounted side walls for limiting the extent of displacement of the latter by said resilient means to thereby position the pivotally mounted side walls in operative association with said camming means.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, including toggle-linkage means operatively associated with said top cover plate for displacing the latter along said spaced rods toward and away from said bed.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said toggle-linkage means includes a pair of spaced toggle-linkages and a power cylinder interconnecting said pair of spaced toggle-linkages to one another for displacing the latter toward and away from one another longitudinally of said bed.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latter said means includes a power cylinder for displacing said bed longitudinally.
 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including means for displacing said opposing mutually cooperable pattern means toward one another transversely of said bed to an intermediate position for engagement with the side walls associated with a selected one of said receptacles to constitute with the latter said side walls a four-sided enclosure for receiving the sand, further means for displacing said pattern means further toward one another to a terminal position for compacting the sand into a mold, and still further means for fully retracting said pattern means away from one another and out of the confines of the latter said side walls to permit longitudinal displacement of said bed.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said pattern means include a pair of opposing pattern plates each having an exposed face for contacting the sand to form an impression in the sand of selected contour.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the exposed face of each of said opposing pattern plates includes a projection for forming in the sand a vertically extending open groove in communicating relation with the impression formed in the sand.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said mold ejection means includes a pair of ejectors on two lateral sides of said pattern means for alternate displacement transversely of said bed through said receptacles respectively for ejecting molds formed in the latter respectively.
 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, including means for reciprocating said bed between two selected positions to carry one of said receptacles opposite said pattern means and then opposite one of said ejectors and the other of said receptacles opposite said pattern mEans and then opposite the other of said ejectors.
 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fluid-sealing means includes a resilient and hollow projection mounted on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the open-end of said enclosure.
 22. Apparatus for forming sand molds, said apparatus comprising an elongate bed, said bed including adjacent and partially enclosed receptacles for alternately receiving sand, closure means for partially further closing said receptacles alternately, said closure means being operatively associated with said receptacles for alternately adjusting the configuration of the latter respectively from that configuration for operating on sand disposed therein to form a mold to that configuration for releasing the mold so formed therein, opposing mutually cooperable pattern means for entering together into each of said receptacles respectively in opposing relation and operating on the sand disposed in the latter, mold ejection means for entering into said receptacles alternately and ejecting the mold formed in the latter, said ejection means including a hollow open-ended enclosure for contacting and ejecting molds formed in said receptacles respectively, the open-end of said enclosure including fluid-sealing means for contacting said molds respectively, said ejection means further including means for injecting pressurized fluid through said enclosure to be trapped therein by said fluid-sealing means and contact said molds respectively for supplementing the force exerted by said enclosure necessary for ejecting said molds respectively, and means for displacing said bed and said pattern means together with said ejection means relative to one another over a plurality of selected positions longitudinally of said bed to align said pattern means and said ejection means opposite selected of said receptacles respectively in operative association with the latter. 